EVE AND THE APPLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 25 (Supplement)

EVE AND THE APPLE.

BY JOHN" MACLEXXAX. (Copyright.) "Dammit, there must be something wrong, she's never been this late before," snapped Farmer Hogg. Plunging his hands viciously .into his trousers pockets, he turned away from peering through the growing dusk, and began to stride about tho parlour. A huge balk of a man he moved with a loose, slouching gait that spoke eloquently of indolent content. Until recently he had had no occasion to worry. But now he was in love, ami, for more than a week he. had been striving to sum up sufficient courage to propose to Widow Ware. This was the first night that he felt really capable of doing so, and— there was no sign of the lady. Eve Ware was city bred, and no doubt her urban daintiness had a great deal to do with James Hogg's cnthralment. But she had other attractions besides. Despite a son of seven she looked a mere girl, and her pretty face with its mc/fry blue eyes and its gorgeous crown of reddish hair was decidedly alluring. On the death of her husband, six months ago, Eve discovered that sh*, could not continue to exist in the city on her small annuity. So, chancing to come across tho advertisement by which Hogg had hoped to let the vacant cottage on his farm, she emigrated to Glenburn where the necessity which led her to visit the farm every evening for milk and vegetables, hastened an intimacy that was almost inevitable in a place where the nearest neighbours weie about two miles distant. But to resume. The farmer was at the window again, one eye on his fat, old English lever, the other peering down the path, when, through the house there vibrated the quaver of an aged voice. "Jimmic," it cried. "Jimmie. are ye in?" "Ay," lie shouted back, stentorously. "They're at th' aepples agon." Off, like a shot, James rushed into thr> lobby where he snatched a heavy stick and, brushing past his mother, charged noisily into the autumn gloaming. His heart was set on his fine apple trees, and the frequent youthful depredations from which they suffered were a course of k/en annoyance to him, especially since the. fleet-footed marauders invariably escaped. And once again, the rascals seemed to be well away. Dimly he could see their flying figures, a dozen at least. If only he could catch one of them just once. Ponderously, he continued the chase, but. the thieves had a big start, and he was beginning to realise the hopelessness . of pursuit when joy, oh joy. one of them was falling behind. With a final desperate spring he overtook the little devil, grabbed him triumphantly by the neck, and, as a beginning, laid two swift, vicious lashes across his legs. Then, from sheer amazement, his arm dropped limply, and. he gasped. There was 'something familiar about the victim's yell. Panic-stricken lie jerked the youngster upright, peered down into the. small, distorted face, and, let him drop. It- was Eve's boy. But presently Hogg recollected himself. For a moment he regarded his victim doubtfully, then, picking him gingerly up, he carried him into the farmhouse where his old mother immediately left off washing the dishes, and came toddling forward, drying her hands in her apron. "Whit's wrang, Jim?" she questioned anxiously, and then gave a little gasp of dismay and took the child fumblingly in her arms. For the life of him Hogg could say nothing, but the boy, quiet soon after the, old woman took him, made every thing clear. It appeared that Mrs. Ware, being unable to come herself owing to the arrival of an unexpected guest, decided to send the boy instead. The child set out bravely in spite of his constitutional fear of darkness, and all went well until he met a panting horde of urchins," who breathlessly advised him to run for his life. Terror seized him then, and glimpsing the terrible pursuer, he fled. Without a word the old woman set about dressing the injured leg. When she had finished she looked sharply at her son. "There's wan thing sure," she said, uncompromisingly, "somewan'll need t' tak' him hamehe canna' walk. Tersal or wan o' the men, eh?" "M-m-maybe I better go mysel'," stuttered Jim. With the child on his right arm, a pailof milk in his left hand, and a generous piece of butter in his pocket, Hogg plodded gloomily to the widow's house, where he duly entered in response to the musical invitation to "Come in.'* Eve immediately rose from her sewing at the table and came forward with a smile. "Oh. it's you, James," she welcomed brightly, holding out her hand. "How good of you to bring Charlie home." In his hurry to grasp that outstretched hand, Hogg let his burden' slither carelessly downwards, and. almost simultaneously, the child .veiled, his now stiffened limb having jarred on the floor. "O-oh! O-oh. my leg!" he roared, limping painfully towards a chair. Like, a flash the mother had him in her arms. "What is it, darling;" she cried anxiously, kissing him. "What is it ?" Perspiring and incoherent, Hogg endeavoured to explain, but Eve was too intent on peeling off stocking and bandage to heed him. At sight of the two lurid weals she gave a horrified little squeal, and then demanded, "Who did, that ?" "H-him. Hehe hit me wit a stick!" wailed the child, rubbing his eyes. Swift as an angry cat, the mother faced the culprit. "You! You!" she exclaimed, incredulously. "Did you do this?" Never was guilt more patent than Hogg's. She flashed him a momentary glance over her shoulder. "Mr. Hogg," she said, with distant politeness, "I shall be very much obliged if you will go." James stepped mechanically into the night. Hi- had no idea where lie went, but his feet carried him home. "But, mother —" he meant to be diplomatic, but the old lady wasn't having any. Hut somehow he could not feel like letting a little personal pride come between himself and Eve. Accordingly next morning he set out himself to see what he could do in the way of reconciliation. It was a warm, sunlit day. and, as he plodded across the fields, keeping as much as possible behind the hedges in case his mother might chance to sec him, he spied Eve sitting sewing beneath the willow tree in her garden. Presently he saw her- look up, hurriedly collect her work and run inside. On the instant he was behind a bush, crouching like a whipped dog, one thought rioting in his brain—she hated him as much as that. Hut James did not lose hope, not even when he heard that the widow's nightly pilgrimages for milk were now being made to the next farm, a distance of nearly two miles. Hogg was crunching over the gleaming, frozen puddles and through the clean-cut shadows of the outhouses, seeing to the comfort of his animals, when suddenly he heard the clatter of racing hoofs, and next instant a trap drew up at the door. A figure rose hurriedly from the seat, shouted " Hello there," in a voice that dames recognised as the village doctor's and leapt to the ground. " Hello doctor." answered Hogg, leisurely picking his way from the byres, " What's ado.' " That you Hogg," cried the other, Fumbling inside the trap. " Ay." "Come here then, quick, Gimme a wo-a—steady on there." James quickened his steps and at the same time the house-door opened and his mother, a lighted candle 111 her hand, ■ peered out into the night. i

" Wha's there? " she demanded shrilly. "It's Mrs. Ware," panted the doctor, " Here Hogg, that's it, that's th' way." . Presently bent under a heavy load, James detached himself from, the trap and stumbled towards the door where ' his mother still sheltered the candle flame. "Whit's happened? Wha ist ? " she. " demanded agitatedly, shuffling aside to let her son pass into the kitchen. "It's Mrs. Ware," said the doctor, bringing up the rear, " I found her lying in the road as I was driving home from Robinson's, and' I brought her here because it was nearest. She's nearly dead." " Oh, mighty me," gasped the old woman, hobbling excitedly to the settee where James was gazing down upon the pinched, bloodless face of his beloved. For a shjDrfc lime mother and son regarded the helpless figure in silence. But, presently Mrs. Hogg turned to the doctor, who had taken off his coat and was wanning his frozen fingers at the fire, and inquired how it happened. " I dunno," replied he, looking over his shoulder: '.' she must have slipped, the road is like glass, and a piece of ico or stone must have pierced a vein in her wrist. A good job it was a bright night or I'd never have seen her." Ho straightened himself, rubbing his hands together. - " But come, my hands are thawed now," and added briskly, " I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to attend to her for a day or two, Mrs. Hogg." " Will she dec ? " James ."nquircd awe* 'somely. • . • " Well, Hogg," replied The doctor, " honestly I can't say, but I hope int." " I'ifU think she'll dee?" insisted tho farmer breathlessly. . ;' " 1 wouldn't like to say that," returned the doctor gravely. " One never knows." " Man, doctor," exploded the other, "is there nothin' ye can do?" " Yes," replied the medico, shrugging his shoulders, " if—if it were possible to find someone willing to let me pump her blood into her." " Willi a he no dae? " inquired James earnestly. " O-oh," the doctor laughed, " certainly." A A sudden glint flared in the farmer's -- eyes and his hand descended heavily on th? doctor's shoulders. "Here's me," he cried triumphantly. " Hum," the doctor forced himself.to be coldly judicious. "Do you realize what it will mean? You won't be able to attend to your farm for some limp after the operation; indeed, it may be quite a long time before you recover entirely."- " Never mind me. doctor,"- retorted Hogg brusquely, " but answer this one question." "Well?" "Will it cure her?" " Yes." " Come on then, v dragging him towards the stair.

James Hogg was pottering about his farm very soon after' operation, hut the widow's recovery was slow, and, for a long time she .seemed to have lost all . interest in mundane affairs. Consequently it was with a distinct shock of surprise . that, one day, Sirs. Hogg imagined she heard Eve speak of her own accord. , " "Wis ye speakiu', dear." she inquired bending eagerly forward in her chair by the bedside. •• "Why doesn't James over come?" repeated Eve more distinctly. ', " James," exclaimed the mother perplexedly, "D'ye want him " Yes, ever since you told me what, bo did for me, I have wanted to thank him. Tell him to come, please." A frown gathered on the wrinkled forehead, but, presently it cleared away, and Mrs. Hogg nodded energetically. " All right, lassie," she said, "A'll tell him, when he'comes in V' his tea. hut." she hastened to add seriously, " Don't 'be disappointed if he canna' come 111' night, he'll be that bissy, ye see." Despite this warning, 1 however. Eve was propped up among the pillows, looking very eager and pretty in- the dainty wrapper half hidden by the heavy cascade of golden hair, when the. old woman returned after tea. "Is—is he coming?" she demanded in an anxious whisper as soon as the door opened. Mrs. Hogg toddled agitatedly to the , bed-side. " See that ye're well wrapped up," she admonished, drawing the wrapper mora tightly about the invalid and fastening it with a safety pin. Disappointment crept into Eve's voice. "Is he coming?" she repeated plaintively. The old woman lowered herself gingerly into the chair and began to stroke the counterpane nervously. " He's a Tunny fella', James," she said at length. " He'll no hear tell o' whit he. done. Afore th' operation he made th\ doctor promise that he widn't breathe a word o't, an' he got real nasty jist yester- . day when the poor soul happent t' mention it in th' parlour. I daren't say a word masel," she paused. " Weel when I tell't him ye wantit him, lie says lie's very glad, an' he wid like gran'.t!come, but ye must promise not to mention th' operation or say a word o' thanks." " Oh, no," exploded Eve, her eyes dark and round, " but I must thank him. I must. It's the least, it's all I can do." But the old woman patted her soothingly on the shoulder. " Aweel, ma lassie," she murmured pawkily, " have it yer ain way, bit that's his condeetions, an' he's an awful stubborn fella. Bit A'll tell you what—A'm goin' t'wash up th' noo. Jist think it ower till I come back." Scarcely had the old lady reached the sitting room, however, when Eve was heard knocking on the floor above with the stick that leant handily against her bed in case she required anything, and Mrs. Hogg reascended beaming. "Whit is't, dearie'.'" she inquired at the door. " Is he in ?" "Ay." " Tell him to come up then, please-" " Ye'li no thank him?" cannily. " All right," impatiently, " tell him to come now." And presently the farmer tiptoed into the room. For days he had dreamed of this, but be was far from being the confident man lie had pictured. " Oh. James," cried Eve. impulsively pushing back a heavy curl with one hand, and stretching out the other towards him, " I'm so glad to see you. I thought you were never coming." Hogg shuffled forward with a fatuous grin, and let her slim hand lose itself in his. He was surprised to see her looking so well. ' " Hoo are ye?" he inquired throatily. " I'm Al," she replied, seizing his wrist . with her free'hand. "Thanks to No, I'm going to thank you; I promised I wouldn't, but," with an adoring look of gratitude, "oh, James, you know." And once again all James' carefully rehearsed speeches were gone, and he stuttered incoherently. Put this time Eve was full of sympathetic understanding. She freed his'hand at once, permitting hint to sink helplessly into his mother's chair at the bedside, where, in a flurried, absent-minded way. he wiped his brow with a huge, red hankcrchief. while Eve, her arms encircling her drawn-up knees, ■ watched him tenderly until he showed signs of recovery. Then, rather shakily: " Jameshave you ever been—in—in— love':" "What?" he cried incredulously, and again : " What '." She repeated her question, laughing jerkilv. . ~ " That's—that's a funny question, he gasped, thoroughly flustered. " But 1 want ail answer," she insisted, shaking her heavy main. " Come on now, answer —quick." But James was far too canny to be rushed. .'■'"■ .. " Hev you ?" he countered, instinctively • glancing "slyly from the corner of his eye. : .' " " Me." she laughed excitedly, "me,: of course, you silly. Why, I'm in- love now." '...'•-''-. " lake a flash the farmer's head was up. ..... ~ " Who is he?" he demanded fiercely, ... "Tell me, an' A'll " ' < \ . " But Eve was leaning forward with eyes ■,v that even he could read. ihK i:no. jSS&k